RESURGAM BOOKS : The Manor House,
Flamborough, Bridlington, East Riding of
Yorkshire
Glossary
Condition
Condition is in the form of P, F,
G, VG, VG+, NF, F, AN as described below.
As New (AN)
Describes a book that has been
bought new and shows no signs of having been previously owned or read.
Fine (F)
Approaches “As New”
condition. For the use of the term, there are no
major defects, etc., and if the jacket has any minor defect, or looks worn,
this is noted.
Near Fine (NF)
Approaches “As New”
condition, but without being crisp. For the use of the term, there are no
major defects, etc., and if the jacket has any minor defect, or looks worn,
this is noted.
Very Good Plus (VG+)
Describes a book that approaches
Near Fine condition but shows some small signs of wear on either binding or paper.
Any defects are noted.
Very Good (VG)
Describes a book that does show
some signs of wear on either binding or paper but whose contents are
excellent. Any defects are noted.
Good (G)
Describes the average used worn
book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects are noted.
Fair(F)
Worn book that has complete text
pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers,
half-title, etc. Binding, jacket (if any), etc., may also be worn. All defects
are noted.
Poor(P)
Describes a book that is
sufficiently worn that is only merit is as a Reading Copy because it does have
the complete text, which must be legible. Any missing maps or plates are
noted. This copy may be soiled, scuffed, stained or spotted and may have loose
joints, hinges, pages, etc.
General Glossary
adverts
Advertisements placed in the
binding of the book.
aeg
See All Edges gilt.
al
See Autographed Letter.
All Edges Gilt
The top, for-edge and foot of the
book are coloured in gold.
als
See Autographed Letter, Signed.
ams
See Autographed Manuscript,
Signed.
Backstrip
The covering of the book’s
spine.
bd
Bound
bdg
Binding.
bds
See Boards
Binding Copy
A book which needs to be rebound
and is worth rebinding.
Blind-stamping
An impressed mark, decoration, or
lettering, not coloured or gilded, usually appearing on the binding.
Boards
The stiff binding material for
most modern books.
Book Block
The entire book sewn together
before it is bound.
Book Sizes
(Pre-War Terminology)
Demy 8vo ... 8⅞” x 5¾”
Post 8vo ... 7⅞” x 5”
Crown 8vo ... 7½” x 5”
Demy 12mo ... 7½” x 4⅜”
Foolscap 8vo ... 6¾” x 4¼”
Demy 18mo ... 5⅞” x 3¾”
Demy 16mo ... 5½” x 4⅜”
Imperial 32mo ... 5½” x 3¾”
Foolscap 12mo ... 5½” x 3”
Royal 32mo ... 5” x 3½”
Demy 32mo ... 4¾” x 2⅞”
Crown 32mo ... 3¾” x 2½”
Book Sizes
(General)
4to A book that is up to 12"
tall. See Quarto.
8vo A book that is up to 9 ¾"
tall. See Octavo.
12mo A book that is up to 7 ¾"
tall. See Duodecimo.
16mo A book that is up to 6 ¾"
tall. See Sextodecimo
24mo A book that is up to 5 ¾"
tall.
32mo A book that is up to 5"
tall.
48mo A book that is up to 4"
tall.
64mo A book that is up to 3"
tall.
Folio A book that is up to
15" tall.
Elephant Folio A book that is up
to 23" tall.
Atlas Folio A book that is up to
25" tall.
Double Elephant Folio A Book that
is up to 50" tall.
Cancel
A tipped-in (i.e., pasted in)
page to replace a page removed after a book has been bound.
Case-Bound
The book is hardbound as opposed
to a paperback.
Chipped
Used to describe where small
pieces are missing or where fraying has occurred on a dust jacket or the edge
of a paperback.
cl
See Cloth.
Cloth
A cloth-bound book. The covering
can be linen, buckram or another textile.
Cocked spine.
Refers to a spine which is
angled, so that the boards will not line up evenly with each other.
Colophon
An identifying inscription or
emblem from the printer or publisher appearing at the end of a book.
Contemporary
Refers to bindings and
hand-coloured plates (generally of the period when the book was published) and
author inscription (dated the year of publication).
Covers
The binding of the book, most
particularly the front and back panels of the book.
Covers bound-in
The original cloth covers,
usually including the spine, bound into the book when a new binding is made.
Normally they are mounted as pages at the end of the book. Also refers to the
covers of books originally issued in boards or paperwraps, but in these cases
the covers are usually bound in their proper positions.
Cut
Many modern books are
smooth-trimmed after binding so that all edges are even, or flush. This is
described as having been "cut".
dec, decor
Decorated. Often referred to a
binding, as in dec. cl.
Deckle Edges
Another term for uncut or
untrimmed edges.
Dedication Copy
The copy of the book inscribed by
the author to the person to whom the book is dedicated.
dj
Dust Jacket.
DuoDecimo (12mo)
A book approximately 7 to 8
inches tall.
ed
See Edition, also “Edited
by”.
Edges
The outer surfaces of the leaves
of a book.
Edition
All the copies of a book printed
from the same plates or typesetting.
8vo
See Octavo.
Elephant Folio
A book about 23 inches tall.
End Papers
The sheets of paper pasted onto
the inner covers, joining the book block to the covers. One side of the sheet
is pasted to the inside cover, the other is left free.
ep
See End Papers.
Errata
Mistakes or errors. Generally
encountered in the term “errata slip”, a small sheet of paper laid into a
book by a publisher who has discovered errors prior to publication.
Ex-Lib
Ex-Library.
F
See Condition — Fine.
F, FF, fol
See Folio.
ffep
Front free end-paper : The end-paper that is not
attached to the inside front cover. See End Papers.
First and Second Printing before Publication
This indicates the publisher was
successful in promoting the book and had more orders before the actual
publication date than the first printing quantity would cover, therefore a
second printing was ordered. Not a first edition.
First Edition
Generally used by book dealers
and collectors to mean the first appearance of a work in book or pamphlet
form, in its first printing.
First Separate Edition
The first appearance as a
complete book or pamphlet of a work that has previously appeared as part of
another book.
First Thus
Means not a first edition, but
something is new. It may be revised, have a new introduction by the author or
someone else, but the first publication in paperback form, or first by another
publisher.
First Trade Edition
The edition produced for general
commercial sale, as distinguished from a limited edition.
Flyleaf
A blank leaf, sometimes more than
one, following the front free endpaper, or at the end of a book where there is
not sufficient text to fill out the last few pages.
Fly title
See Half-title.
Folio
Has several meanings: (1) a leaf
numbered on the front; (2) the numeral itself; and (3) a folio-sized book. See
Book Sizes.
4to
See Quarto.
Foxed
See Foxing.
Foxing
Brown spotting of the paper
caused by a chemical reaction.
Free Endpaper
See End Papers.
Frontis
See Frontispiece.
Frontispiece
An illustration at the beginning
of a book, usually facing the title page.
Front Matter
The pages preceding the text of a
book, in the following order:
bastard title or fly title
frontispiece
title page
copyright page
dedication
preface or forward
table of contents
list of illustrations
introduction
acknowledgements
half title
G
See Condition - Good.
ge
See Gilt Edges.
Gilt Edges
The page edges have been trimmed
smooth and gilt, or gold, has been applied. The abbreviation ge means gilt
edges; aeg means all edges gilt; gt means gilt top; teg. means top edge gilt.
Glassine
A transparent paper dustwrapper.
gt
See Gilt Edges
Half Cloth
Paper-cover boards with he spine
bound in cloth.
Half Leather
A term indicating that the spine
and the corners of a book are bound in leather, while the rest of the binding
may be cloth or paper. Also see Quarter Leather.
Half Title
The page carrying nothing but the
title of the book, usually preceding the title page.
Headband
A decorative cloth band,
sometimes coloured or multicoloured, appearing inside the backstrip at the top
(and sometimes bottom) of the spine of a book.
Hinge
The joint (either outer or inner)
of the binding of a book - the part that bends when the book is opened.
Holograph
A term indicating the handwriting
of the author.
Ill, Ills, Illus.
Containing Illustrations.
Imprint
A term that can refer either to
the place of publication or to the publisher.
Inscribed
Usually indicates a book signed
by the author, either with an inscription to a specific person or bearing some
brief notation along with his signature.
Laid Paper
A handmade paper showing parallel
lines of the papermaking frame, visible when help up to the light.
Leaf
A single sheet in a book; each
leaf contains two printed pages, one on each side.
Limited Edition
Any book whose publication is
deliberately restricted to a comparatively small number of copies, usually
numbered and often signed by the author and/or illustrator.
Limp
An adjective describing a
flexible binding in suede or imitation leather such as that used on the early
titles of the Modern Library.
Made-up Copy
A copy of a book whose parts have
been assembled from one or more defective copies.
Marbled
Paper decorated with an imitation
marble pattern.
Monograph
A work, generally short, dealing
with a single subject and usually issued in pamphlet form.
Morocco
A type of leather made from
goatskins, especially suitable for book bindings because of its durability and
beauty.
ms, mss
Manuscript.
nd
See No Date.
nf
Near Fine condition. See
condition - Fine.
No Date
No date of publication mentioned
within the book.
No Place
No Place (of publication).
np
See No Place.
Number
An issue of a periodical.
Obverse
The right-hand page of a book,
more commonly called the recto.
Octavo (8vo)
A book of about 5 inches wide and
8 inches tall to about 6 x 9 inches. Octavo is the most common size for
current hardcover books. To make octavo books, each sheet of paper is folded
to make eight leaves (sixteen pages).
op
Out of Print.
orig
Original. As in original binding.
Out of Print
A book no longer being printed.
pb
Paperback.
Paper Boards
Stiff cardboard covered in paper.
Parts
The practice of publishing novels
in separate monthly instalments in magazine format.
Paste-Down
The portion of the end-paper
pasted to the inner cover of a book.
Perfect binding
Used in paperback books, trade
paperbacks and magazines that have too many pages to be stapled. The page
edges are glued together, then placed in the covers. This is a less expensive
process than traditional book binding and stapling.
Pictorial
Describes a book with a picture
on the cover.
pl, pls
See Plates.
Plates
Whole-page illustrations printed
separately from the text. Illustrations printed in the text pages are called
cuts.
Preface
Author’s introductory
statement.
Presentation Copy
A copy of a book actually given
by the author to someone of his acquaintance, usually with an inscription of
some sort testifying to this disposition.
Price clipped
The price has been clipped from
the corner of the dust jacket.
Printed Cover
Used to describe a dust wrapper
or paper cover that is only lettered.
Private Press
A small press, often operated by
one person, usually devoted to the production of small quantities of finely
printed books.
Privately Printed
This term refers to a book or
pamphlet whose printing was paid for by an individual or a group, and which is
meant for private circulation, not public sale.
Proofs
Precede the published book. The
normal course of events would be galley proof, uncorrected bound proof and
advance reading copy bound in paperwraps.
pub
Publisher or published.
Publication Date
The data a book is formally
placed on sale.
Quarter Leather
A book with a leather spine. Also
see Half Leather.
Quarto (4to)
A book between octavo and folio
in size; approximately 11 to 13 inches tall. To make a quarto, a sheet of
paper is folded twice, forming four leaves (eight pages).
Reading Copy
A copy of a book that is worn or
used to such a degree that it is not in good enough condition to be considered
collectible.
Re-backed
A book that has been repaired by
getting a new spine and mended hinges.
Re-cased
A book that has been glued back
into its covers after having been shaken loose.
Recto
The front side of a leaf in a
bound book; in other words, the right-hand page of an opened book. Also called
the obverse.
Rejointed
Means the book has been repaired
preserving the original covers, including the spine.
rem
See Remainder
Remainder
When a book has ceased to sell, a
publisher may get rid of his overstock by “remaindering” the title.
Remainder Marks
The publisher will mark the
bottom edges of books sold as remainders with a stamp, a black marker, or
spray paint, which speckles the bottom.
Reverse
The rear side of a leaf in a
bound book; in other words, the left-hand page of an opened book. Also called
the verso.
rfep
The end paper that is not
attached to the inside rear cover. See End Papers.
rm
See Remainder Marks.
ser
See Series.
Series
A group of volumes with a common
theme issued in succession by a single publisher.
Sextodecimo (16mo)
A small book, approximately 4
inches wide and 6 inches tall. To make it, each sheet of paper is folded four
times, forming sixteen leaves (32 pages).
Shaken
An adjective describing a book
whose pages are beginning to come loose from the binding.
Signature
In bookmaking, this does not mean
the author's name written out in his hand. It refers rather to the group of
pages produced by folding a single printed sheet, ready for sewing or gluing
into a book.
16mo
See sextodecimo.
Sizes
See Book Sizes
Slipcase
A cardboard case covered in
paper, cloth or leather which holds a book with only the spine exposed.
Spine
The book’s backbone, where the
signatures are gathered. The spine is covered with the backstrip.
Stub
A narrow strip of paper usually
remaining where a leaf has been cut away.
Sunned
Faded from exposure to light or
direct sunlight.
teg
See Top Edge Gilt or Gilt Edges.
Thousands
Some publishers in the nineteenth
century added a notice on the title page stating, for instance "Eighth
Thousand" to indicate a later printing. These are not first editions.
Three-decker
A book in three volumes, almost
exclusively used to describe Victorian novels of the late nineteenth century.
Tipped-in
Means the plate, autograph,
letter, photo, etc., is actually attached to the book.
Title Page
The title page, near the
beginning of the book, lists the title and subtitle of the book the authors,
editors, and/or contributors, the publisher or printer, and sometimes the
place and date of publication. The title page information should be used for
cataloguing (not the half-title page or covers).
Title Page Index
Used in describing periodicals,
to indicate that the title page and index are present; without a title page
and index, the volume is incomplete.
tls
See Typed Letter Signed.
Top Edge Gilt
Usually abbreviated teg, it means
that the top edges of the pages have been covered with gold leaf or gilt
material.
tp
See Title Page.
tpi
See Title Page Index.
Trade Edition
The regularly published edition.
This term is used to differentiate it from a limited signed edition of the
same book.
Trimmed
An adjective indicating that the
pages have been cut down to a size smaller than when originally issued.
12mo
See Duodecimo.
Uncut
The pages of the completed book
have not been shaved down to a uniform surface.
Unopened
The leaves of the book are still
joined at the folds, not slit apart.
unpag
See Unpaginated.
Unpaginated
The pages are not numbered
(although each signature may be designated by letter).
Variant
A book that differs in one or
more features from others of the same impression, but a positive sequence has
not been established.
Vellum
A thin sheet of specially
prepared skin of calf, lamb, or kid used for writing or printing, or for the
cover.
Verso
The second, or rear, side of a
leaf in a book; in other words, the left-hand page of an opened book. Also
called the reverse.
vol
The volume of the book.
VG
See Condition - Very Good.
Waterstained
Discoloration and perhaps actual
shrinking of the leaves or binding.
wr, wrs
See Wrappers.
Wrap-around Band
The band of printed paper the
length of the dust-wrapper of a book. Wrap-around bands contain favourable
reviews and are put around some copies of books. Obviously fragile, that are
of interest to collectors.
Wrappers
The outer covers of a paperbound
book or pamphlet. Not to be confused with “dust wrapper”.
To Order :
On this site, you will not
find "Shopping Baskets" and "Buy Me Now" boxes,
whose purpose is to entice you to complete a
purchase without any human intervention. We
pride ourselves on our personal attention to
detail. If you are at all unsure about any
aspect of the books offered, please telephone,
fax, write or e-mail me with your query which
will be answered promptly and, I hope,
knowledgeably.
I am unable, at present, to accept orders via
the web. However an order can be sent either by
letter, fax, e-mail or telephone. For any other
queries or information please do not hesitate to
contact me. To order now, please select the
ORDER FORM.
Contact Information
Geoffrey Miller
can be contacted by:
Telephone or FAX
01262 850943
[International: +44 1262 850943]
Postal address
The Manor House,
Flamborough,
Bridlington,
East Riding of Yorkshire, YO15 1PD
United Kingdom.
Prices
shown are net to all. Book dimensions are given
in inches, to the nearest quarter-inch, in the
format width x height. A digital photograph or
scan of any book is freely available upon
request. Please note that, to differentiate them
from soft-covers and paperbacks, modern
hardbacks are still invariably described as
being "cloth" when they are, in fact,
predominantly bound in paper-covered boards
pressed to resemble cloth.
When Ordering
The
following methods of payment are gratefully
accepted: Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, JCB) Sterling (GBP) cheque, drawn on a British
bank, and made payable to "G. Miller" Sterling money order, made payable to "G.
Miller" UK-based Debit Cards (Delta, Switch).
Due to
extremely high conversion charges, I am regretfully
unable to accept foreign currency. For international
transactions, the simplest method is to use a credit
card, which will be charged in Pounds Sterling (GBP)
which is then converted into your own currency at
the prevailing exchange rate. Returns are accepted
without question if not as described.
RESURGAM
BOOKS
The Manor House
Flamborough
Bridlington
East Riding of Yorkshire YO15 1PD